Women’s Rights

Women have come a long way in this country. Gone are the bad old days of when a woman’s place was solely in the home. Violence against women is rightfully condemned. Women participate in all aspects of American life from the workplace to the political arena. While we should remain vigilant to ensure we don’t take any steps back in protecting equal opportunity to women, you would think the feminist movement would declare victory. Unfortunately, that has not been the case.

I love women. I was raised by a single mother. I love strong, independent women; the type of woman you would think the feminist movement would embrace. However, the modern feminist movement; with few exceptions, are not about celebrating and promoting strong, independent women. The feminist movement has instead morphed into the womyn’s liberation left which has decided to destroy the sexist patriarchy and replace it with Sugar Daddy Government that will provide women with everything from free birth control, to subsidized child care, to student and small business loans, and taxpayer subsidized abortions.

The activists of the womyn’s liberation left of course are not entirely to blame. They have many willing accomplices in our political class like Barack Obama who even drew a little cartoon to pander to them. Like other groups who derive a part of their living from the plunder of taxpayers, the womyn’s liberation left and their fellow travelers are more passionate than most voters about keeping the benefits they have and, if possible, expanding their benefits than the average American who is just trying to make a living for their family. Instead of the males in the family providing for women or women providing for themselves, the womyn’s lib left now want women to rely on a sugar daddy, Big Government.

The Hillhas announced that Democrats in Congress have launched a campaign aimed at developing economic strategies that would offer precious opportunities for women in the workforce.

The move seems to corroborate reports claiming Democrats hope to use the debate over the soon-to-be proposed bills to create a clear distinction between them and House Republicans when the subject is a series of issues they seem to believe pertain solely to women.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) used big words before a big crowd outside the Capitol on Thursday to describe the Democrats’ plan. “When women succeed, America succeeds. This agenda is about the future of America’s families and the growth of America’s economy. It is about unleashing the power of our nation’s women and in doing so strengthening the middle class, the backbone of our democracy.”

According to the congresswoman, among a series of bills being pushed by Democrats is an amendment they hope to add to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) being pushed by Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD). The amendment would ensure companies are required to provide mandatory paid leave to women who take time away from work for various reasons including caring for ill family members and childbirth.

While Rep. Donna Edwards’s amendment may seem like a good idea at first glance, it could put a strain on many businesses. Companies could be discouraged from hiring women and would simply hire men instead, creating a disadvantage for female workers everywhere. According to Rep. Edwards, “these women who are so deeply woven in the economic fabric of our country should also have the benefit of knowing that they would be able to take paid leave.”

Virginia State Senator Jill Vogel (R-Fauquier County) introduces a bill to require women to undergo an ultrasound before having an abortion. In protest, State Sen. Janet Howell (D-Fairfax) introduces an amendment requiring a cardiac stress test and rectal exam before men can be prescribed erectile dysfunction medication. Vogel’s bill passes by voice vote while Howell’s amendment narrowly fails. Glenn Reynolds, A.K.A. Instapundit, declares himself “okay with abortion” but reserves all of his outrage for the failed amendment, insisting that what we’re seeing here is “a false equivalence” and “kindergarten style payback.” Something is very wrong with this picture.

In a way, Reynolds is right. We are seeing a false equivalence. While there is absolutely no medical reason to require women to have ultrasounds before undergoing abortion procedures, there are good medical reasons to require men to undergo rectal exams and cardiac stress tests before being prescribed erectile dysfunction drugs. Included among the side effects of Viagra, for example, are rectal bleeding, colitis, chest pain, and irregular heartbeat. I don’t know if Howell had any of these side effects in mind when she proposed her amendment or if she was instead purely interested in kindergarten style payback, but either way her amendment actually makes more sense from a medical perspective than does Vogel’s.